Interview with Dr. Vijay Ramaiah (Preview)

Category: 
Featured Interview

By Vladimir Nekhendzy, M.D.

 

Our guest today is Dr. Vijay Ramaiah, Clinical Instructor of Anesthesiology at Stanford University School of Medicine. Born and educated in India, Dr. Ramaiah pursued his postgraduate medical education in the U.S., completing 2 fellowships in neuroanesthesia. He completed Stanford Head and Neck Anesthesia / Advanced Airway Management fellowship in 2013, and joined Stanford Head and Neck Anesthesia group thereafter.

 

Vijay, welcome! Please introduce yourself to SHANA members.

Vijay Ramaiah. I was born and raised in Bangalore, which is now known as Bengaluru. It is the capital city of a southern state of India, Karnataka. Bangalore is known as a “Garden City”, and more commonly as a “Silicon Valley of India”. It is a vibrant city with rich cultural heritage, which is famous for its medieval architecture, music, arts, literature, theatre, and much more. In the 1980’s, the city was evolving and expanding in science and technology, and growing up, I could not be left untouched by these advancements.

 

Did this inspire you in some way to become a physician?

Vijay Ramaiah. Yes, I think that the unique interplay of traditional culture and scientific and technological advancements helped to shape my personality and my aspirations. Even though my parents have an agricultural background, by the end of the high school I knew that I wanted to be a doctor. My family was very supportive in helping me realize my dream, as well as my large extended family of grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins.

 

 

        

 

 

 

Tell us a little bit about your medical education in India.

Vijay Ramaiah. India has a mix of government and private medical schools. After successfully qualifying for an entrance level examination, I undertook postgraduate degree (MBBS) at one of the prestigious government medical schools, Bangalore Medical College, aka BMC. It was during my final years of MBBS that I had developed a deep interest in anesthesiology, which combined my interest in physics, physiology, pharmacology and medicine. After completing MBBS and qualifying for another national level entrance examination, I started anesthesiology residency at one of the premier medical institutes in India, New Delhi All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and thus started my journey in the field of anesthesiology.

 

How is the anesthesiology training in India different compared to the United States?

Vijay Ramaiah. There are many similarities. The anesthesiology residency in India is a 3-year program, with internship completed as part of MBBS. During my anesthesiology residency...

 

 

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